Releasable Cable Tie

ABSTRACT

A releasable cable tie having a cable tie head, a neck, and a strap body. The cable tie head includes a strap passageway extending from an entrance end at the bottom of the cable tie head to an exit end at the top of the cable tie head. The cable tie head also includes a locking wedge and a release mechanism pivotally connected to the locking wedge. The strap body includes a plurality of teeth on one side of the strap body. The strap body wraps around the cables and extends through the strap passageway engaging the locking wedge to secure cables. When desired, the release mechanism is lifted to disengage the locking wedge from the teeth of the strap body to release the cables.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a releasable cable tie, and more particularly to an easy grip releasable cable tie with an exit end release mechanism.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cable ties having a release mechanism are known in the art. Prior release mechanisms on cable ties are outside of the cable tie head. The release mechanism is pushed downwards or outwards away from the cable tie head to rotate a wedge within the cable tie head. However, the release mechanism is often difficult to engage and depress. The cable tie is released when the teeth on the wedge rotate away from the teeth of the cable strap to enable the cable tie to disengage. The cable tie may also release when the cable tie head is deflected enough to cause disengagement or when the teeth on the wedge or the teeth on the strap are damaged from over tensioning.

As such, it is desirable to provide an improved releasable cable tie that maintains engagement until a release mechanism is activated. It is also desirable to provide a releasable cable tie with a release mechanism that is easily engaged even while wearing gloves.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed towards a releasable cable tie used to secure cables. The releasable cable tie includes a cable tie head, a neck extending from the cable tie head, and a strap body extending from the neck. The cable tie head has a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, a top, a bottom, and a strap passageway extending from an entrance end at the bottom of the cable tie head to an exit end at the top of the cable tie head. The cable tie head also has a locking wedge and a release mechanism pivotally connected to the locking wedge. The strap body having teeth on one side of the strap body. The strap body wraps around the cables and extends through the strap passageway in the cable tie head engaging the locking wedge to secure the cables. When desired, the release mechanism is lifted to disengage the locking wedge from the teeth of the strap body to release the cables.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the releasable cable tie of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the cable tie head, a neck, and a portion of the strap body of the releasable cable tie of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a top view of the cable tie head, neck, and portion of the strap body of the releasable cable tie of FIG. 2 .

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the cable tie head, neck, and portion of the strap body of the releasable cable tie taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 .

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the cable tie head, neck, and portion of the strap body of FIG. 4 with a free end of the strap body feed through the strap passageway.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the cable tie head, neck, and portion of the strap body of FIG. 5 with the teeth of the strap body engaging the teeth on the locking wedge.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the engaged releasable cable tie of FIG. 6 .

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the cable tie head, neck, and portion of the strap body of FIG. 4 after the release tab is raised to disengage the locking wedge from the strap teeth to release the cable tie.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a top perspective view of the releasable cable tie 20 of the present invention. The releasable cable tie 20 is a molded one-piece thermoplastic material for binding electrical cables (not illustrated). The releasable cable tie 20 includes a cable tie head 30, a neck 60 extending from the cable tie head 20 and a strap body 62 extending from the neck 60. The cable tie head 30 includes a first end 32, a second end 34, a first side 36, a second side 38, a top 40, and a bottom 42. The neck 60 extends from the bottom 42 of the cable tie head 30 at the second end 34 of the cable tie head 30. The strap body 62 includes a plurality of teeth 64 formed on one side of the strap body 62 for engaging the teeth 72 of a locking wedge 70 positioned within the cable tie head 30.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a top view of the cable tie head 30, neck 60, and a portion of the strap body 62 of the releasable cable tie 20. The cable tie head 30 includes a strap passageway 44 with an entrance end 46 at the bottom 42 of the cable tie head 30 and an exit end 48 at the top 40 of the cable tie head 30. Thus, the strap passageway 44 extends from the bottom 42 of the cable tie head 30 to the top 40 of the cable tie head 30.

The locking wedge 70 extends from the top 40 at the second end 34 of the cable tie head 30. The locking wedge 70 extends downwards at an angle towards the strap passageway 44. As described below, the locking wedge 70 rotates from an initial position in the strap passageway 44 to a disengaged position out of the strap passageway 44. The locking wedge 70 includes a plurality of teeth 72 designed to engage the teeth 64 on the strap body 62 when the strap body 62 is positioned in the strap passageway 44.

A release mechanism 80 also extends from the top 40 at the second end 34 of the cable tie head 30. The release mechanism 80 includes a rectangular release tab 82. The release tab 82 is located above the neck 60 of the releasable cable tie 20. The release mechanism is pivotally connected to the locking wedge. As a result, the release mechanism 80 rotates the locking wedge 70 within the cable tie head 30. The release tab 82 and the locking wedge 70 are positioned at the center of the cable tie head 30 between the first side 36 and the second side 38 of the cable tie head 30. The release mechanism 80 pivots when activated thereby rotating the locking wedge 70 and teeth 72 within the strap passageway 44. As described below, to activate the release mechanism 80, the release tab 82 is raised or lifted away from the strap body 62 and towards the exit end 48 of the strap passageway 44 thereby rotating the locking wedge 70 away from the teeth 64 on the strap body 62 and out of the strap passageway 44.

FIGS. 5-8 illustrate the releasable cable tie 20 in a secured position and in a released position. FIG. 5 illustrates the strap body 62 of the releasable cable tie 20 being inserted in the strap passageway 44 of the cable tie head 30. FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the releasable cable tie 20 in an engaged and secured position. As the strap body 62 is feed through the strap passageway 44, the teeth 72 on the locking wedge 70 are rotated to allow the strap body 62 to move freely in the strap passageway 44. The strap body 62 is pulled up through the strap passageway 44 and out the exit end 48 until the desired tension has been achieved. Once the desired tension has been achieved, the strap body 62 is released and the teeth 72 on the locking wedge 70 engage the teeth 64 on the strap body 62 and thereby lock the releasable cable tie 20.

FIG. 8 illustrates the releasable cable tie 20 after the release mechanism 80 has been activated. When the release tab 82 is lifted, the locking wedge 70 and teeth 72 rotate counterclockwise forcing the teeth 72 of the locking wedge 70 downwards away from the strap teeth 64 and out of the strap passageway 44.

The release mechanism and locking wedge of the present invention provide the releasable cable tie with many advantages over prior cable ties. Activating the release tab of the release mechanism does not require any additional tensioning of the strap body. The loop tensile strength can be determined by the pressure of the locking wedge engaging the teeth of the strap. The release mechanism provides a lower risk of damage to the strap teeth and the wedge teeth during release. As a result, the cable tie can be reinstalled more frequently due to reduced damage to the teeth. The release mechanism can also be activated with a reduced release force when the cable tie is installed on non-complaint bundles.

Furthermore, while the particular preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes, and modifications may be made without departing from the teaching of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as limitation. The actual scope of the invention is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art. 

1. A releasable one-piece cable tie for bundling cables, the releasable one-piece cable tie comprising: a cable tie head, the cable tie head having a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, a top, a bottom, and a strap passageway extending from an entrance end at the bottom of the cable tie head to an exit end at the top of the cable tie head; a neck extending from the cable tie head; and a strap body extending from the neck, wherein the strap body having teeth on one side of the strap body; wherein the cable tie head having a locking wedge extending from the top of the cable tie head into the strap passageway and a release mechanism pivotally connected to the locking wedge; whereby the strap body wraps around the cables and extends through the strap passageway in the cable tie head engaging the locking wedge to secure the cables, and the release mechanism is lifted away from the strap body and towards the exit end of the strap passageway to disengage the locking wedge from the teeth of the strap body to release the cables.
 2. The releasable one-piece cable tie of claim 1, wherein the release mechanism includes a release tab extending from the top of the cable tie head at the exit end of the strap passageway.
 3. The releasable one-piece cable tie of claim 1, wherein the locking wedge is angled downward from the top of the cable tie head towards a first end of the cable tie head.
 4. The releasable one-piece cable tie of claim 1, wherein lifting the release mechanism away from the strap body and towards the exit end of the strap passageway rotates the locking wedge counterclockwise away from the strap passageway.
 5. The releasable one-piece cable tie of claim 1, wherein the release mechanism is positioned above the neck of the releasable cable tie.
 6. The releasable one-piece cable tie of claim 1, wherein the release mechanism rotates the locking wedge from an initial position in the strap passageway to a disengaged position out of the strap passageway.
 7. The releasable one-piece cable tie of claim 1, wherein the release mechanism and the locking wedge are positioned at a center of the cable tie head between the first side of the cable tie head and the second side of the cable tie head. 